RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE (NPV) CONCEPT OF USING THE INTERSTATE COMPACT TO ALLOW THE PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. TO BE ELECTED BY THE MOST POPULAR VOTES CAST IN THE ELECTION

Whereas, the U.S. Constitution does not require the winner-take-all method for allocating their electoral college votes and allows each state to determine how their electoral college votes shall be awarded to the Presidential candidate who wins the most popular votes cast in their state; and

Whereas, each state has the power to change their state law regarding how their votes will be awarded and at present 48 states have adopted the winner-take-all rule and 2 (Maine and Nebraska) award their electoral college votes based on which candidate wins the popular vote in each of their Congressional districts; and

Whereas, there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution or federal law which needs to be changed in order to implement a nationwide popular vote for President; and

Whereas the Constitution authorizes states to enter into interstate compacts that enable them to enter into contractual agreements to undertake agreed upon joint actions and are legally obligated to carry out the terms of such agreements; and

Whereas, the most effective way to ensure that no future U.S. President can be elected unless they receive the highest number of votes of all candidates in the election, that each American's vote counts equally, and that the Presidential candidate receiving the most popular votes nationwide would receive a majority of the electoral college votes(270 of 538);

Be it therefore resolved that the National Conference of Black State Legislators endorses and supports the concept of the NPV and urges its membership to work in their respective states to pass such legislation to create an Interstate Compact which would take effect when the requisite number of states pass legislation adopting it whose combined electoral college votes is a majority (270); and

Be is further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Chair of each state legislative black caucus, the Presidents of the National Conference of State Legislators and the Council of State Governments, and the presiding officers of each House of the 50 state legislatures and the President of the District of Columbia City Council.

Adopted by NBCSL at its Business Meeting held on December 1, 2006 at its Annual Meeting in Jackson, Mississippi.Signed by Representative Mary Coleman, President of NBCSL